10 Ways You are Not A Bad Mama… {FREE PRINTABLE}

If you follow me on social media, Instagram specifically, you will know that I’m pretty darn honest about #momlife. I’ve asked myself many a times “am I a bad mama?” and I share these moments on Instragram. While I agree that Instagram is a place to share your pretty little squares, I believe that some sense of “real life” should be present.

As pretty as my feed may be, I need for you guys to know that I’m right there with you! I struggle the same way you do, I just cannot show some of it to you! I ask myself several times a day, “does it make me a bad mama?”

My home can sometimes.. Ok if we’re being honest, most days can be a VERY heavy place. There is a lot going on! I cannot share this with you all the time; my blog/social media is a chance to escape the heaviness! Social media is often a double-edged sword. While you want to see all the pretty things, loving moments and wonderful experiences, perception can sometimes kick in and you’re left wondering, WHY NOT ME?

The most recent for me was the end of spring break and seeing all those loving snuggles between mother and child and I questioned, am I bad mama cause I’m happy the come Monday I’m doing the happiest dance that Ava will be back in school? As I continued to scroll, that question turned into an unjustified and unfair nagging belief. You’re saddened that it’s coming to and end and I am thankful the end is finally here!

There is a giant list of times you will ask yourself,” Does this make me a bad mama…” especially when comparing your life to others! You are not me and I am not you, which is OK! Your experiences will be different from mine… that is ok too! You and your children are cut from a different cloth and that is what is beautiful about life! We will never feel the exact same way about everything that we do so please see those little squares and enjoy them for exactly what they are; pretty!

I can almost guarantee that shot of the happiest, prettiest Christmas is the most staged photo you will ever see. 5 minutes earlier one kid was picking their nose, the other was scowling at the photographer, mom was losing her mind with anxiety and dad was dreaming about a beach somewhere or what it’d be life to be single again!

It doesn’t make you a bad mama….

1. When you feed my kids Macaroni and Cheese, sometimes you just want to have a meal without screaming, “Sit DOWN and EAT!”

2. When you forget to put their clothes in the washing machine, sometimes wearing pants two days in a row is OK; no one will know I promise.

3. After asking 5 times to hurry up and get dressed or you’ll be late for school to SNAP the 6th time you say it! Talking to walls is frustrating! Every mother agrees!

4. When you finally do make it out that door, it’s ok to FEEL relieved that for the next 6 hours, your child will be someone else’s problem! Home Schooling isn’t for everyone and hence why schools exist.

5. When you see photos of Hawaii and wish you were there instead of buried in mountains of laundry that will probably sit in that same chair for another 3 days!

6. On that note, it’s also ok to not do laundry for yourself until you actually completely run out of clean underwear!

7. When you pour that glass of wine at noon, or dinner, or bedtime or whatever time it is. That escape is often needed. Molding a tiny brain is exhausting! Hearing the word Mama whined over and over, knowing their talking to you and you cannot make it stop would cause anyone to drink!

8. To laugh when you witness Karma getting back at your children especially when you’ve nearly given yourself gray hairs after repeating yourself constantly with warnings or words of wisdom that they will not listen to. Those “I told you so moments” are sometimes what gets you through the day!

9. To sit in your vehicle for an extra 10 minutes before or after grocery shopping alone and enjoying that mini vacation. We all get it! Take those moments they are few and far between! Call a friend, get a coffee and drink it hot! You will thank you later!

10. Not feeling overcome with love and amazement for your offspring every moment. You’ve been touched, pulled or poked too much and had gross boogers or other bodily functions wiped on you to last a lifetime. It’s ok to want to be YOU again! Just remember that you have changed, you are not the same person you once were. You might not recognize yourself anymore! You might have to get to know yourself again! We’ve had kids, we’re not the same anymore and that’s ok.

Just always remember this you are not a bad mama, in fact, you are so much the complete opposite!

Ava to Zoe is a Vancouver Based Lifestyle Blog that is play on Janette's two young daughters’ names. Ava To Zoe is a safe place to fall & know you're not alone! You can expect fun recipes, honest & real reviews, travel and everything in between!

5 COMMENTS

Love this!! Mom guilt is so real. Sometimes I turn the music up way to loud when my kids are crying in the car just to drown them out. But that doesn’t make me a bad mom. Thanks for sharing your heart!

YES!!!!!!!!! I’ve been losing my marbles lately when it comes to being a parent. We’re talking… ready to curl up in a ball and just cry. Parenting is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it’s so worth it.

I noticed myself nodding in agreement to everything you wrote! Mom guilt is so real sometimes and IG doesn’t make it better. As long as you are aware that life isn’t a highlight reel then we’ll be ok! Thank you for being so honest and raw – as per usual